A former school secretary is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a local school, according to the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Shawntele Marie Simon, 44, of Lake Arthur was arrested Monday on charges of theft-value of $5,000 or more, but less than $25,000 and malfeasance in office.

She was arrested after $9,200 was found missing during an audit of the school financial records.

Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris Ivey said detectives met with school administrators last Wednesday and began investigating the complaint of theft involving the former school employee.

During the investigation, detectives learned the former school secretary had been late with normal accounting paperwork and had not closed out the books for the past school year until late summer, according to Ivey.

An audit found discrepancies in bank deposit amounts and cash donations not deposited were found, along with no records of any deposit of the gate or concessions for any sporting event that occurred during the summer, he said.

Detectives received the audit form from the school board’s chief financial officer and initiated a criminal investigation which lead to an arrest warrant being issued Thursday for Simon. She was not arrested until Monday.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Jeff Davis Parish School Superintendent John Hall said the School Board works hard to safeguard the funds entrusted to it by the residents of the parish.

“We take this obligation seriously,” Hall stated. “Allegations of this nature are immediately reported, as was done in this case.”

School officials are continuing to cooperate with law enforcement on the investigation, he said.

“While we are not at liberty to discuss the details, we can confirm that Ms. Shawntele Simon is no longer employed by the district, ” he said.

The name of the school where Simon was employees has not been made public.